Tire-chain repair tool



' s. K. TIBBENS TIRE CHAIN REPAIR TOOL" May 15,1928. 1,670,221

Filed se t. 2, 1926 Patented May 1928 UNITED STATEs -v I I 1,670,221", serum? OF jF.ICE-;;EI

SAMUEL) K. 'rrBBENs', or HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR orbits-Burro "WILLIAM nivrAnrrn, or HARRISBURG; PENNSYLVANIA. i'

TiRE-CHAIN Burma-TOOL;

Application filed September 2, 1926; serial no. 133,247. i

I The invention relates to improvements in tools of the type designed for permitting quick and easy detachment of cross chains from tire chains, and the substitution'of new cross chains. Heretofore, when inserting one or more new cross chains, it has been customary to also apply new hooks, said hooks being used to connect the cross chain with the side chains. As these hooks receive very little. wear however, there is no necessity of' renewing them each time a cross chain is renewed, but tools-heretofore devisedforopening the hooks and permitting disconnection thereof from the side-chains,

-' have not been such as to also permit detachment of the hooks from the worn cross chain and application of said hooks to a new length of chain, said tools being designed only for opening and closing the hooks without spreading the hook-carrying arms and, thus permitting disconnection of the cross chain hooks from the worn cross chain. It is the object of my invention to provide a new and improved chain tool which will, at a single operation, not only open the hooks to permit disconnect-ion thereof from the side chains, but will also spread the hook-carrying arms sufficiently to permit removal of the hooks from the ends of the worn cross chain and application of said hooks to the ends of a new length of chain,

' so that the same hooks may be used for connecting this new chain length, with the side chains. Thus, a great number of cross chains may be out from along chaln of the proper construction and as the old hooks may be used in connecting these cross chains with the side chains, quite a sav ng may be drawing.

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the tool engaged with a cross chain hook, in

readiness for opening the hooks and spreading the hook-carrying arms. Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the hooks opened and the hook-carrying arms spread apart. a

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. V

The drawings above briefly described,"il

lustrate the preferred form of construction and While this construction :will behereinafter specifically described, it is to beunderstood at theoutset, that within the scopeof the invention as claimed, variationsmay be made... j A; i f the drawings, the numeral .4 designates a cross chain and 5 hasre'ferenceto one of the usualhooks at anendof said cross-chain, connecting it-with one of the side chains 6. .Thehook 5 is of theconverr vtional shape and itis. formed of 'a,;single length of wire whose ends constitute.the

hooks 7and .7 at the free ends offthe usual hook-carrying'arms 8 and 8% In order to disconnect the hooks 7 an d:7 "from the side:

chain 6,,it isnecessary toopen said hooks, and in order to disconnect the hook 5 from the cross chain 4, the arms 8 and 8 must be spread a distance at least equivalent to the cross section of the cross chain links. The

improved tool performs both functions at aj disposed inwardly toward each other, said wedges being adapted to move. into overlapping relation as seen in Fig. 2, when the handles 12 are forced toward each'other. Both wedges have flat front, and rear surfaces which are preferably disposed in planes substantially. at right angles to the. length of the levers. The flat front surfaces characters 14 and 14* while the fiat rear sides of the Wedges are designated 15 and 15". The inner end of the surface 14. is preferproviding a curved nose 16 for the jaw 13.

. of the wedges are assigned the reference ably curved inwardly to the surface 15, m

Similarly, the surface 15*" of the jaw 13";

curves outwardly to the surface 14, pro.- viding a rounded nose 16% for said wedge 13'.

In'using the tool, it isengaged with a N5 hook 5 as seen in Fig. 1' and the handles 12 are forced together. the wedge 13 passes through the hook 7" and abuts a ortion of the hook 7 as seen in this view. imi1arly,thefiwedge 13 passesfl g When this is done,

through the hook 7, and abuts the bill of the hook 7 When the two handles 12 arenow further forced together,the wedges l3 and ,l3 moye i-ntothe overlapping relation shown in Fig. 2, and asthey assume this, relation,

the nose 16 forces the hook 7 toward the wide end of the Wedge 13. nose 16 forces the hook 7 toward thewide or thick end of the wedge 13.-Thus, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, the arms 8 and 8 are spread and the hooks 7 7, are opened at the single operation of the tool. This chain to the side chain.

permits the hook 5 to be disconnected both from the Worn cross "chain 4 and from the side chain 6, so that said hook may'again be used for .oOnneCting the new length of eross After bending the hook 5 into the shape shown in. Fig. 2 engaging it with the new length of cross chain, the arms '8 and 8 may' be bent back together if desired, and after re-engagement of the hooks -77 With the side chain 6, said hooksare again closed. To permi't these two bending operations to be performed by the tool, I provide the inner edgesof the lever ends 11', with appro- Siniilarly, the,

priate teeth 17 which permit said ends to beantislippingly used in performing the bending operations referred to, the tool being" then used as a pair-of .plierst It will beseen ,froin the foregoing that while the invention is. simple andinexpensive,. itsw,ill be highly eflioient and easy to operate. EXcellent results have been ob tained from the details disclosed and ,they are therefore preferably followed. However, Within the scope of the invention as claimed; modifications may. be made and hook-carrying arms of a 'cross' chain hook sufficiently to permit detachn'ient I of the latter from both a cross chain and a" side chain, and operating means for said wedges.

In testimony whereof-II have; hereunto a'flixed my signature.

, SAMUEL TIBBENSL I 1 

